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Welcome to Am I Infected

IMPORTANT UPDATE
Posted Tuesday, August 28, 2012

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I have read many times on this website that there is NO risk through kissing, it does not matter if it is deep kissing, french kissing, etc. etc. Also stated on this site is that NO ONE has EVER been infected by making out with someone else. Is that true? The CDC says they have one case. I'm just wondering about the disc repency? If my only recent risk was making out with a girl, is it a concern to test over or not? I've been having a lot of anxiety cause I just want to understand the science of it. Is it true that the saliva has enzymes which prevent HIV from infecting someone via kissing?

The reason I ask again is not to be a pain in the rear at this site, it is suppose to be the most up-to-date with accurate information on HIV, Testing, & Transmission. It's just when I asked a counselor, she said that there was one case through the CDC, that it was controversial, and that anything is possible.

I've just read so many times here that you guys say it is NOT possible. That's all, just don't know if I should let it go or get tested in 13 weeks. Sorry again.

I told my counselor about this site and about the advice I was told about kissing; she forwarded me this e-mail:

Open-mouth kissing is considered a very low-risk activity for the transmission of HIV. However, prolonged open-mouth kissing could damage the mouth or lips and allow HIV to pass from an infected person to a partner and then enter the body through cuts or sores in the mouth. Because of this possible risk, the CDC recommends against open-mouth kissing with an infected partner. One case suggests that a woman became infected with HIV from her sex partner through exposure to contaminated blood during open-mouth kissing. For more information refer to the July 11, 1997 Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report "Transmission of HIV Possibly Associated With Exposure of Mucous Membrane to Contaminated Blood".

I just don't understand, everywhere on this site it says that open-mouth kissing is no risk and that it has NEVER happened in over 25 years of this pandemic. I just want to know if I should test or not, I think I'm going to get a new counselor? Is this information accurate or not? Please respond.

Read the quote you brought to us carefully and take note of the language used. I don't know about you, but I see the words "possibility" and "suggests". These words mean that there is not conclusive evidence in this case. Please also take note of the date. 1997. Nearly ten years ago. This is outdated information.

In the current year, 2006, we KNOW that kissing is NOT a risk for hiv transmission.

And yes, if I were you, I'd look for a counselor or therapist who didn't send me outdated information on a subject I was deathly afraid of. Sheesh.

Keep this up and you WILL be given a time out. This is not the appropriate place to corral your wild fears.

"...health will finally be seen not as a blessing to be wished for, but as a human right to be fought for." Kofi Annan

Nymphomaniac: a woman as obsessed with sex as an average man. Mignon McLaughlin

HIV is certainly character-building. It's made me see all of the shallow things we cling to, like ego and vanity. Of course, I'd rather have a few more T-cells and a little less character. Randy Shilts

You're absolutely right! I am getting a new counselor today. Thank you for the good points. I never saw it that way and I did not know that she took it from someone else. It's pretty sad, you guys have NEVER done me wrong and have NEVER been wrong about anything you have said to me. I have continued to test negative. I wish you all well and I will drop by from time to time to say hello. Thank you for helping me and others. Have a wonderful day!

Hello everyone, quick question about your last post. Is kissing still considered a zero/low risk even if the person kissing had bitten their tongue 8 hours earlier. I forgot to add that I had bitten my tongue and there were two teeth wounds on my tongue that bled pretty bad at the time; however, 8 hours later was my kissing incident. I'm assuming that my wounds would have healed enough right? Is it still considered no risk even with wounds to the tongue? If my partner was bleeding and the blood came into contact with my tongue wound, would that be considered a risk. Thanks again.

I just don't get it; help me understand... How can there be cases of people who have been infected through giving oral sex (because of semen)...yet, it is not a risk to become infected through french kissing (even if the person has blood in their mouth) Isn't blood more infectious then semen?

And if people can become infected through giving oral sex; then how can my risk of just french kissing a woman of unknown status not be a risk? I don't get it??? I know I didn't taste blood, but I've read that even with blood in the mouth it is not considered a risk. I just don't know if I can rely on my negative 9 week test or should I test again @ 13 weeks? Again:

1. How can giving oral sex with semen be a risk (even though rare) but french kissing isn't???2. How do these enzymes work to make blood non-infectious but they don't work on semen?3. How accurate is a 9 week negative test (homeaccess) for french kissing being the only risk? 4. Should a person who tested negative @ 9 weeks, confirm with a 12/13 week test...Just to make sure???

I promise this will be the last time that I post in this forum, I just want to know the accuracy of a Home Access HIV-1 test @ 12 weeks, one day (84 days). Is it considered conclusive even though it is a first generation test. This is all that I want to know, please answer these questions.

"...health will finally be seen not as a blessing to be wished for, but as a human right to be fought for." Kofi Annan

Nymphomaniac: a woman as obsessed with sex as an average man. Mignon McLaughlin

HIV is certainly character-building. It's made me see all of the shallow things we cling to, like ego and vanity. Of course, I'd rather have a few more T-cells and a little less character. Randy Shilts